Italy: Sanremo 2021 dates announced
The dates for the 71st Sanremo are set: Five nights from 2 to 6 March 2021
Several countries are announcing their intention to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 which is set to be held in Rotterdam whilst others are also announcing their acts to be presented.
One of the Big 5 countries, Italy, who returned to Eurovision in 2011 after their last participation in 1997, has yet to confirm their participation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Having said this, the nation has also yet to confirm how their act will be selected and whether Diodato will be internally selected or will get the chance to participate in the annual Italian music competition, Sanremo.
Although crucial confirmations have yet to be announced, the director from the national broadcaster, RAI, Stefano Coletta, has announced the dates for next year's Sanremo Festival, which will be the 71st edition of the popular music competition:
Tuesday 2 March to Saturday 6 March 2021
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, it has been noted that Sanremo will postpone the notable February dates to March. This announcement took place during the unveiling of the RAI TV Schedule for the upcoming season with Stefano Coletta stating:
– Sanremo 2021 is scheduled from 2 to 6 March hoping for this date can be done "with the traditional formula". Sanremo plan B is not Sanremo. For this reason we decided to postpone the festival from February to 2 to 6 March. Then we are also thinking about other solutions but we believe that Sanremo must be Sanremo.
Once again, Amadeus will reprise the role as the Conductor and Artistic Director for Sanremo 2021 whilst being paired again with Rosario Fiorello. Before the official announcement of these dates, Amadeus said in an interview with Radio Italia:
– After the first festival, the second in theory could be easier because you build on experience. The music will be very present both in the race and among the guests: I already have contacts with the discography, because the great concerts will not start again before spring 2021 and therefore Sanremo will be even more important. We hope that we return to normal with that edition: there was a pre-Coronavirus Festival and there will be a post-Coronavirus Sanremo, it will be a 'first-encore'.
Diodato was set to represent Italy in Rotterdam 2020 with the song "Fai Rumore".
Italy in Eurovision Song Contest
Italy has been in Eurovision for 45 contests. They have won twice, in 1964 with the song "Non Ho L'étà" and in 1990 with "Insieme: 1992". Worst result was in 1966 where they finished last.
The most known song is "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" or better known as "Volare" from 1958. It is also the most covered Eurovision Song Contest song. The song has been covered by famous stars such as Dean Martin, Cliff Richard, David Bowie and many more.
Italy had a long pause from Eurovision Song Contest from 1998 to 2010. Since then Italy has been a "Big-5"-country, automatically qualifying for every year's Grand Final.
